Container and blow mold assembly

ABSTRACT

A container for storing, transporting and dispensing liquids has a spout comprising a mouth opening through which liquid passes, the spout projecting from the top portion of the container body proximate the front thereof, and a hollow handle joining the spout with the rear of the top portion of the container body and comprising a handle opening joining the spout with the hollow handle so that with the container rotated to dispense liquid, liquid does not block the inflow of air through the hollow handle and into the container. Advantageously the spout further comprises a spout throat comprising the mouth opening, a spout base and a spout platform, the spout throat being substantially cylindrical and less wide than the spout platform, the spout base being frustoconical and joining the spout platform to the spout throat, the spout platform having plural flat sides between the spout base and the top portion of the container body.

I. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to containers for transporting, storing and dispensing liquids. In particular, this invention relates to blow molded containers having integral features for improving the facilities of the containers for dispensing liquids therefrom and to molds for such containers.

2. Description of Related Art

Containers of the type to which this invention pertains are characterized by large body cross sections and a mouth advantageously formed in a neck portion of the container comprising surface features for engaging a separable closure and forming a spout. It is known for such containers to comprise mouths of small cross section relative to the cross sectional area of the container body. In known containers of this type, as liquid is dispensed, liquid at the mouth blocks inflow of air to the container body. Referring to FIG. 1, a container in accordance with the prior art is shown in partial cross section. Spout A comprises mouth opening B and is joined to the top of container body C. Hollow handle D connects the rear of container body C with spout A. As the container is rotated to dispense liquid therefrom, when lowest portion of mouth opening B is below liquid level L, fluid flows from mouth opening B. As seen in FIG. 1 with the container rotated to this orientation, liquid blocks the opening of hollow handle D at spout A, blocking the inflow of air to the container. The blocking of inflow of air causes liquid flow to surge as the internal pressure decreases with loss of volume of contents. The surges of liquid flow make it difficult to control the rate at which fluid is dispensed leading to splashing and overflow of vessels into which the liquid is poured. Hence, there is a need for a container that overcomes the drawbacks of the known designs and improves the facilities for controlled flow of liquids therefrom.

It is known to produce containers to which the invention pertains by blow molding. Blow molding is a cyclic process wherein a parison of material in a moldable condition is centered on the parting plane of a mold assembly; the mold assembly is closed around the parison; the parison is expanded so the exterior of the parison abuts molding surfaces defining a molding cavity of the closed mold assembly; the blow molded article is conditioned to be sufficiently rigid to retain its size and shape while unsupported; the mold assembly is opened; and, the blow molded article is removed. In general, the moldable condition of the parison is achieved when the material of the parison is at an elevated temperature, and the rigid condition of the blow molded article is achieved when the temperature of the material has been reduced. There is a need for molds for blow molding containers having improved facilities for dispensing liquids therefrom.

II. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a container for transporting, storing and dispensing liquids comprising a body having front and rear portions and a spout in the front portion proximate the top of the container for dispensing fluids therefrom having integral features for improved dispensing of liquids therefrom.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a container for transporting, storing and dispensing liquids comprising a body having front and rear portions, a spout projecting from the top of the container body proximate the front thereof, and a hollow handle open to the base of the spout and the top of the container proximate the rear thereof the hollow handle joining the spout at a handle opening so that with the container rotated to dispense liquid therefrom, liquid does not block the inflow of air through the hollow handle and into the container.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a mold assembly for producing containers in accordance with the invention.

Further objects and advantages of the invention shall be made apparent from the accompanying drawings and the following description thereof.

In accordance with the aforesaid objects the present invention provides a container for transporting, storing and dispensing liquids, the container comprising a container body, a spout projecting from the top portion of the container body proximate the front thereof, a hollow handle joining the spout with the rear of the top portion of the container body, the spout comprising a mouth opening through which liquid flows to fill the container and to dispense liquid from the container, a handle opening joining the spout with the hollow handle so that with the container rotated to dispense liquid therefrom, liquid does not block the inflow of air through the hollow handle and into the container. Advantageously the spout further comprises a spout throat comprising the mouth opening, a spout base and a spout platform, the spout throat being substantially cylindrical and having a width less than the spout platform, the spout base being frusto-conical and joining the spout platform to the spout throat, the spout platform being interposed between the spout base and the top portion of the container body. A mold assembly comprises mold components for blow molding a container in accordance with the invention, the mold components comprising molding surfaces comprising first molding surfaces defining the container body, second molding surfaces defining the neck portion comprising the spout, third molding surfaces defining the container base and fourth molding surfaces defining the hollow handle.

III. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an enlarged partial cut-away view of a container according to the prior art.

FIG. 2 is a three dimensional view of a container in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the top of the container of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged top view of a portion of the container of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, partial cut-away view of the container of FIG. 1 proximate the spout.

FIG. 6 is a three dimensional view of a mold assembly for blow molding the container of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a three dimensional view of a mold component of the mold assembly of FIG. 3.

IV. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The invention shall be illustrated with reference to a preferred embodiment which shall be described in detail. It is not the intention of applicant that the invention be limited to the preferred embodiment, but rather that the invention shall be defined by the appended claims and all equivalents thereof.

Referring to FIGS. 2-4, a container 10 comprises body 12, a spout 16 projecting from spout platform 14 in the top portion of body 12, and a handle 22 attached to body 12 proximate the rear of container 10 and joined to spout platform 14. As shown, spout 16 is at the front of container 10 and includes mouth opening 18 and surface features thereon, such as thread flights 20, for engaging a separable closure (not shown) for covering mouth opening 18. The top of container 10 includes groove 15 traversing the top portion of body 12 immediately behind spout 16, groove 15 comprising the rear sidewall of spout platform 14. At the junction with container body 12, spout platform 14 has six sided perimeter 30. Sidewalls 14s of spout platform 14 slope upwardly from perimeter 30 toward mouth 18 and terminate in saddle surface 32 joining frusto-conical spout base 17. Spout base 17 tapers upwardly toward mouth 18 and joins spout throat 19 with spout platform 14. Spout throat 19 is substantially cylindrical (having formed thereon threads 20) and comprises mouth opening 18. The structure of spout platform 14 and spout base 17 provides a rigid support for spout throat 19, reducing flex to prevent displacement of mouth 18 from side forces acting thereon such as when spout 16 is placed-in contact with a stationary object to dispense liquids.

FIG. 5 illustrates the portion of container 10 proximate spout 16 with container 10 rotated to lower mouth 18 to dispense liquid therefrom. Hollow handle 22 joins spout 16 at handle opening 24. Handle opening 24 is oriented with reference to spout 16 and located relative to mouth opening 18 so as to prevent liquid being dispensed from blocking the inflow of air through hollow handle 22. When the lowest portion of mouth opening 18 is below liquid level L, liquid flows over the lower edge of mouth opening 18. As shown in FIG. 5, liquid level L in spout 16 remains below handle opening 24 of hollow handle 22, leaving handle opening 24 open and permitting air to flow into hollow handle 22 and therethrough into container body 12. As liquid is dispensed from container body 12, lost liquid volume is replaced with air admitted through mouth opening 18 and handle opening 24. Hence, internal pressure of container 10 is held constant and surging of flow of liquid therefrom as known in the prior art is substantially eliminated. Liquid level L is prevented from blocking inflow of air to hollow handle 12 as a consequence of the relative positions of the opening to hollow handle 12 at spout platform 14 and mouth opening 18. As illustrated in FIG. 5, groove 15 functions as an internal baffle to reduce sloshing of liquid proximate spout 16 when container 10 is rotated to dispense liquid therefrom.

Advantageously, container 10 is produced by blow molding. Referring to FIG. 6, a mold assembly 40 for blow molding container 10 comprises mating mold components 42 and 52 each referred to herein as a “mold half” or “molding tool”. Each of mold components 42 and 52 is carried by a member of a molding machine press (not shown) for translating the mold components between open and closed positions relative to each other (the open position depicted in FIG. 6). In the open position, mold components 42 and 52 are separated permitting admission of a parison such as parison 60 therebetween' and removal of a molded article upon completion of a molding operation. In the closed position, mold components 42 and 52 abut at parting plane 70, the abutting faces of mold components 42 and 52 having molding surfaces open thereto defining at least one cavity. The cavity shown in FIG. 6 is a cavity for blow molding container 10 of FIG. 2. Parison 60 is tubular, typically produced by extrusion of flowable material through a die (not shown) above mold assembly 10. Parison 60 is formed as a single continuous tubular extrusion with a length extending below the lowest molding surface of the cavity. With the molds closed surrounding the parison, the parison is pinched closed at the base molding surface and pressurized through the open end at the neck of the cavity to expand the parison material to abut the molding surfaces of the cavity.

Continuing with reference to FIG. 6, the portion 41 of the cavity defined by mold component 42 comprises molding surfaces 44, 46 and 48. Molding surfaces 44 define the body of the container comprising a primary cavity; molding surfaces 46 define the neck portion of the container comprising spout 16 and, molding surfaces 48 define the base portion of the container. Mold component 42 comprises center section 43 comprising molding surfaces 44, base section 47 comprising molding surfaces 48 and insert 45 comprising molding surfaces 46. The corresponding sections of mold component 52 are center section 53, base section 57 and insert 55. Each of sections 53-57 comprise molding surfaces substantially mirroring molding surfaces 44, 46 and 48, respectively.

Referring to FIG. 7, molding surfaces 58 defining handle 22 blend with molding surfaces 44 defining the container body. Molding surfaces 59 define a rear sidewall comprising spout platform 14. Molding surfaces 58 blend with molding surfaces 59 defining groove 15 in the top surface of container body 12 and with molding surfaces 46 defining spout 16 and spout platform 14. The blends with molding surfaces 46 and molding surfaces 59 define handle opening 24 at spout 16. The relative locations of handle opening 24 and mouth opening 18 prevent liquid level in container 10 from blocking the inflow of air through mouth opening 18 and hollow handle 22. The continuous opening through hollow handle 22 from spout 16 to the rear of the container body allows air to enter the container body as liquid is dispensed therefrom, reducing or eliminating surges of flow that would otherwise arise were the outflow of liquid to block inflow of air needed to replace the volume of liquid dispensed. 

1. A container for transporting, storing and dispensing liquids, the container comprising a container body, a spout projecting from the top portion of the container body proximate the front thereof, a hollow handle joining the spout with the rear of the top portion of the container body, the spout comprising a mouth opening through which liquid flows to fill the container and to dispense liquid from the container, a handle opening joining the spout with the hollow handle so that with the container rotated to dispense liquid therefrom, liquid does not block the inflow of air through the hollow handle and into the container.
 2. The container according to claim 1 wherein the handle opening is oriented relative to the spout and located relative to the mouth opening such that when the mouth opening is below the level of liquid in the spout, the handle opening remains open to permit the inflow of air therethrough.
 3. The container according to claim 1 wherein the spout further comprises a spout throat comprising the mouth opening, a spout base and a spout platform, the spout throat being substantially cylindrical and having a width less than the spout platform, the spout base being frusto-conical and joining the spout platform to the spout throat, the spout platform being interposed between the spout base and the top portion of the container body.
 4. The container according to claim 3 wherein the spout throat comprises surface features for engaging a separable closure for covering the mouth opening.
 5. The container according to claim 4 wherein the surface features comprise at least one thread flight.
 6. The container according to claim 3 wherein the spout platform comprises a six-sided perimeter at the junction thereof with the container body, and sidewalls sloping upwards from the perimeter toward the mouth opening and terminating in a saddle surface joined with the spout base.
 7. The container according to claim 3 wherein the top portion of the container body further comprises a groove traversing the top of the container body and comprising the rear sidewall of the spout platform, the groove functioning as an internal baffle to reduce sloshing of liquid proximate the spout with the container rotated to dispense liquid therefrom.
 8. A mold assembly for blow molding at least one container in accordance with claim 1, the mold assembly comprising first and second mating mold components, each mating mold component comprising molding surfaces open to a mating face of the mold component and defining the exterior of an article to be molded, the molding surfaces comprising first molding surfaces defining the container body, second molding surfaces defining the neck portion comprising the spout, third molding surfaces defining the container base and fourth molding surfaces defining the hollow handle.
 9. A mold assembly for blow molding at least one container in accordance with claim 3, the mold assembly comprising first and second mating mold components, each mating mold component comprising molding surfaces open to a mating face of the mold component and defining the exterior of an article to be molded, the molding surfaces comprising first molding surfaces defining the container body, second molding surfaces defining the neck portion comprising the spout, third molding surfaces defining the container base and fourth molding surfaces defining the hollow handle.
 10. The mold assembly according to claim 9 wherein the second molding surfaces define surface features for engaging a separable closure for covering the mouth opening.
 11. A mold assembly for blow molding at least one container in accordance with claim 7, the mold assembly comprising first and second mating mold components, each mating mold component comprising molding surfaces open to a mating face of the mold component and defining the exterior of an article to be molded, the molding surfaces comprising first molding surfaces defining the container body, second molding surfaces defining the neck portion comprising the spout, third molding surfaces defining the container base and fourth molding surfaces defining the hollow handle. 